Hospital bed



Oct. 15, 1929. B. MclNTosH 1,731,251

' HOSPITAL 13H1:`

Filed June 24. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 llmll Oct. l5, 1929. B. MclNTosH 1,731,251

HOSPITAL many Filed June 24. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lumu TToRN'EY oclt. 15, 19,29.

Filed June 24, 1927 B. MclNTosH 1,731,251

HOSPITAL BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BURTNETT MOINTOSH, OF FLORAL PARK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK A. HALL & SONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOSPITAL BED Application led J'une 24,

This invention relates to hospital beds, and aims to provide an improved bed of the type having independently adjustable head and thigh sections.

A particular object is the* provision of means for lifting the patient from the bed The invention also involves improvements in the structure and operating mechanism of the bed as will hereinafter appear.

Vhile a preferred form of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration,

it should be understood that various changes may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention v as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bed of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bed.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail partly in section illustrating part of the operating mechanism.

Fig'. 7 is a section on line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings more particular- 1y, the bed comprises a head end 10 and a foot end 11, these ends being connected by removable side rails 12. The mattress 13 is carried by a plurality of spring supporting sections that are hinged to the side rails in a manner permitting their independent adjustment. The head section 14 is hinged to the side rails at 15, while the thigh section 161s pivoted to the railsrat 17 and has a foot section 18 pivotally connected at 19 to its lower end. The hinged sections are built up of angleiron frame members, and the springs l20 which support the mattress 13 are attached to the 1927. Serial No. 201,133.

horizontal wings of the angle-iron members, as will appear from Fig. 3.

A U-shaped operating lever 21 has its lower end hinged on posts 22 extending downwardly from each side rail 12, while the upper extremities of its arms carry rollers 23 which engage under the horizontal wings of the frame members comprising the head section 14. A pull rod 24 has one end connected to the lever 21 at point 25 midway along one of its arms, the opposite end of rod 24 being connected to screw mechanism 26 which is operable to impart a longitudinal movement to pull rod 24 to thereby move lever 21 and elevate the head section.

A lspring 24 has one end connected by a link 24a with the lever 21 while the other end is connected to the side rail bracket 28 carrying the pivot 28. This spring assists:

the raising action of the lever 21.

The thigh section 16 is raised by means of a U-shaped lever 27, which has the intermediate part of its arms hinged to the side rails 12 as at 28, and has a pull rod 29 connected to its lower end, the rod 29 being engaged by screw mechanism 30 (Fig. l)

Screw mechanism 30 is shown in detail in Figs. 6 to 8, and comprise a housing attached to the lower side of the left-hand side rail 12, and inclosing a bearing sleeve 31. The upper half 32 of the housing has its side walls notched as at 33 to accommodate the trunnions 34 projecting from the sides of sleeve 31.

The lower part 35 of the housing has turned-up end walls 36 and carries studs 37 which fit into the notches 33 and support the trunnions 34. Bolts 38 clamp the two parts of the housing together.

The pull rod 29 is hollow and has a threadv ed connection with the screw shaft 39 which passes rotatably through the bearing sleeve 3l and has a squared end 40 for engagement with an operating handle 41. Thrust collars 42 and 43 are keyed to the shaft on opposite sides of sleeve 31 to lioldthe operating end of rod 39 stationary while the parts are being operated. It is necessary to lubricate the thrust-carrying surfaces ofthe thrust bearings, Land the lower part 35 of the housing acts as an oil pan to catch any excess lubricant. v

A split socket 44 is clamped about the end of shaft 39 and the operating handle 41 is pivoted thereon at 45, a spring latch 46 serving to hold the handle in the operative position of Fig. 6. Upon releasing latch 46-the handle can be folded down under the foot of the bed, as in Fig. 2.

Vhen it is desired to raise the thigh section 16, the handle 41 is rotated in a clockwise direction thereby causing the screw shaft 39 to exert a pull on rod 29. This effort is transmitted to lever 27 and causes the ends of the lever, which carry rollers 47, to push upward against section 16. It should be understood that screw mechanism 26 is similar to the mechanism 30 just described, and that operation of mechanism 26 causes the elevation of head section 14. Since the operating mechanisms are entirely independent it is possible to adjust either the head section or the thigh section Without disturbing the rest of the bed.

In certain cases it is desirable to lift the patient away from the bed while the position of the bed sectionsis being changed,

and the present invention furnishes the folv lowing convenient means for doing this. A rigid frame 58 formed by end pieces 48 and angle-iron side members 49 lits around the top edge of the mattress. Brackets 50 are attached to the upper ends of the sides of the head section 14 and these brackets carry at their upper ends rollers 51 engaging under the horizontal flange of the side member 49 as appears in Fig. 5. A guard rail 52 extends under each roller 51 to keep the head end of the frame from tilting away from the rollers. The lower end of the frame is supported in a similar way by brackets53 secured to the lower ends of the thigh section 16 and carrying rollers 54. The end piece 48 at the head end of the frame is provided with a guide member 55 which cooperates with a vertical bar 56 of the head 10 to prevent longitudinal displacement of the frame.

A'plurality of flexible supporting strips 57 formed of fabric or other suitable material extend across the frame and are adapted to bear the weight of the patient when the frame 58 is elevated. At the left side of the bed these strips 57 are rigidly clamped to the side member, while along the right side of the bed they are detachably fastened to the rotatable shaft 59. For the three middle strips this fastening takes the form of buckles 60, while each of the other strips is furnished with a hook 61 engaging an aperture 62 formed in the shaft. Ratchet mechanism 63 controls movement of the shaft 59, which is formed with a squared end 64 to receive an operating handle, not shown.

It will be clear from Fig. 2 that as the sections 14 and 16 are moved to elevated position the brackets 50 and 53 press upwardly against the frame 58, and since the latter is rigid, the frame is lifted above the mattress at the center of the`bed.

When the bed is being used normally, in flat condition, the strips 57 do not extend across the bed, but. are stored in inoperative position along the left side of the bed. At a time when it is desired to elevate the patient the strips 57 are worked under him one at a time and secured to the shaft 59, those in the center by the buckles 60 and the rest-by athe hooks 61. Shaft 59 is then rotated to draw taut the strips 57 carrying hooks 61. Operation of screw mechanisms 26 and 30 at this time will elevate the frame 58 and carry'the patient above the bed. It will now be relatively easy to release the buckles 60 and draw the middle strips aside, after which a. bed pan can be inserted between the mattress and the frame for use by the patient.

The novel features disclosed herein cooperate to produce a bed that simplifies and lightens the work of caring for hospital paftients, and is capable of many uses that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A hospital bed comprising supporting structure, a movable head section hinged to the supporting structure, a movable thigh section hinged to the supporting structure, a rigid framework connected to and movable with the hinged sections, and mechanism for moving the hinged sections.

2. A hospital bed comprising supporting structure, a movable head section hinged to the supporting structure, a movable thigh section hinged to the supporting structure, upwardly extending brackets mounted on the hinged sections, rollers on the upper ends of the brackets, a rigid framework supported on the rollers, and mechanism for moving the hinged sections.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

BURTNETT MCINTOSH. 

